RIO GRANDE VALLEY –The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football program is receiving votes in the week 4 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl, marking the program's first-ever appearance in a national poll.
In their inaugural season, the Vaqueros (4-0) are one of 15 remaining undefeated programs in the FCS and one of six undefeated teams with at least four wins.
Undefeated Teams in NCAA Division I FCS Football
| Team |
Record |
Last Game |
Next Game |
| #1 North Dakota State |
3-0 |
W 41-14 vs. (RV) Southeast Missouri State (9/13) |
vs. #18 South Dakota (9/27) |
| #2 South Dakota State |
3-0 |
W 37-21 vs. Drake (9/13) |
vs. Mercyhurst (9/27) |
| #3 Tarleton State |
5-0 |
W 52-24 vs. Chattanooga (9/20) |
vs. Southern Utah (10/4) |
| #4 Montana |
3-0 |
W 63-20 vs. (RV) Indiana State (9/20) |
vs. #10 Idaho (9/27) |
| #7 Rhode Island |
4-0 |
W 28-7 vs. (RV) LIU (9/20) |
@ Western Michigan (9/27) |
| #9 Lehigh |
4-0 |
W 41-24 @ Bucknell (9/20) |
vs. Penn (9/27) |
| #11 Tennessee Tech |
3-0 |
W 72-14 vs. Davidson (9/13) |
@ Tennessee State (9/27) |
| #20 West Georgia |
4-0 |
W 33-12 vs. (RV) Eastern Kentucky (9/20) |
@ Southern Utah (9/27) |
| (RV) UTRGV |
4-0 |
W 61-13 vs. Texas Wesleyan (9/20) |
@ (RV) Southeastern (9/27) |
| (RV) Presbyterian |
4-0 |
W 76-3 vs. Bluefield (9/20) |
vs. Morehead State (9/27) |
| (RV) Brown |
1-0 |
W 46-0 vs. Georgetown (9/20) |
@ (RV) Harvard (9/27) |
| (RV) Dartmouth |
1-0 |
W 27-20 vs. #23 New Hampshire (9/20) |
@ Central Connecticut State (9/27) |
| (RV) Harvard |
1-0 |
W 59-7 @ Stetson (9/20) |
vs. (RV) Brown (9/27) |
| (RV) Yale |
1-0 |
W 28-10 vs. Holy Cross (9/20) |
vs. Cornell (9/27) |
| Penn |
1-0 |
W 24-21 @ Stonehill (9/20) |
@ #9 Lehigh (9/27) |
The Vaqueros are the second brand new FCS program to start 4-0 in their inaugural season since 2008, joining South Alabama (2009).
AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – September 22, 2025
| Rank |
School (1st votes) |
Rec. |
Pts. |
Prev. |
Week 4 |
Next Game |
| 1 |
North Dakota St. (25) |
3-0 |
649 |
1 |
Idle |
Sept. 27 vs. No. 18 South Dakota |
| 2 |
South Dakota St. (1) |
3-0 |
622 |
2 |
Idle |
Sept. 27 vs. Mercyhurst |
| 3 |
Tarleton St. |
5-0 |
598 |
3 |
D. Chattanooga, 52-24 |
Oct. 4 vs. Southern Utah |
| 4 |
Montana |
3-0 |
552 |
5 |
D. Indiana St., 63-20 |
Sept. 27 vs. No. 10 Idaho |
| 5 |
Illinois St. |
3-1 |
546 |
4 |
D. North Alabama, 38-36 |
Oct. 4 vs. No. 1 North Dakota St. |
| 6 |
Montana St. |
2-2 |
525 |
6t |
D. Mercyhurst, 17-0 |
Sept. 27 vs. Eastern Washington |
| 7 |
Rhode Island |
4-0 |
492 |
6t |
D. LIU, 28-7 |
Sept. 27 at Western Michigan |
| 8 |
UC Davis |
2-1 |
418 |
9 |
D. Southern Utah, 50-34 |
Sept. 27 vs. Weber St. |
| 9 |
Lehigh |
4-0 |
402 |
10 |
D. Bucknell, 41-24 |
Sept. 27 vs. Penn |
| 10 |
Idaho |
2-2 |
381 |
8 |
Lost to San Jose St., 31-28 |
Sept. 27 at No. 4 Montana |
| 11 |
Tennessee Tech |
3-0 |
370 |
12t |
Idle |
Sept. 27 at Tennessee St. |
| 12 |
Southern Illinois |
3-1 |
363 |
11 |
D. Southeast Missouri St., 59-31 |
Oct. 4 vs. Indiana St. |
| 13 |
ACU |
2-2 |
308 |
15 |
D. No. 20 Austin Peay, 45-31 |
Sept. 27 at No. 24 UIW |
| 14 |
Monmouth (N.J.) |
3-1 |
296 |
18 |
D. No. 12t Villanova, 51-33 |
Oct. 4 vs. Delaware St. |
| 15t. |
North Dakota |
2-2 |
267 |
17 |
D. Valparaiso, 58-7 |
Oct. 4 at Northern Iowa |
| 15t. |
Northern Arizona |
3-1 |
267 |
19 |
D. No. 14 UIW, 31-23 |
Sept. 27 at Portland St. |
| 17 |
Jackson St. |
2-1 |
235 |
16 |
Idle |
Sept. 27 at Southern |
| 18 |
South Dakota |
2-2 |
173 |
21 |
D. Drake, 42-21 |
Sept. 27 at No. 1 North Dakota St. |
| 19 |
Youngstown St. |
3-1 |
149 |
24 |
D. Towson, 31-28 |
Oct. 4 vs. No. 2 South Dakota St. |
| 20 |
West Georgia |
4-0 |
142 |
NR |
D. Eastern Kentucky, 33-12 |
Sept. 27 at Southern Utah |
| 21 |
Sacramento St. |
2-2 |
128 |
22 |
D. Central Arkansas, 45-16 |
Sept. 27 vs. Cal Poly |
| 22 |
Villanova |
1-2 |
118 |
12t |
Lost to No. 18 Monmouth (N.J.), 51-33 |
Sept. 27 vs. William & Mary |
| 23 |
Mercer |
2-1 |
82 |
25 |
D. The Citadel, 38-0 |
Sept. 27 at East Tennessee St. |
| 24 |
UIW |
1-3 |
61 |
14 |
Lost to No. 19 Northern Arizona, 31-23 |
Sept. 27 vs. No. 13 ACU |
| 25 |
Austin Peay |
2-2 |
52 |
20 |
Lost to No. 15 ACU, 45-31 |
Sept. 27 vs. Utah Tech |
Dropped Out: New Hampshire (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Presbyterian, 51; Lamar, 42; Dartmouth, 31; Lafayette, 26; Harvard, 16; Southeastern Louisiana, 14; Yale, 13; Furman, 11; New Hampshire, 9; Stephen F. Austin, 9; North Carolina Central, 7; East Tennessee St., 5; Gardner-Webb, 5;
UT Rio Grande Valley, 5; Richmond, 3; Brown, 2; Chattanooga, 2; Eastern Washington, 1; San Diego, 1; South Carolina St., 1.
In the National Rankings
UTRGV currently leads the FCS in four statistical categories, ranks in the top five in 18 categories, and the top 25 in 31 categories:
| Category |
Value |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Total Yards Per Game |
604 |
1 |
1 |
| Winning Percentage |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Per Game |
321.5 |
2 |
1 |
| Turnovers Gained |
10 |
2 |
1 |
| Points Per Game |
58.5 |
3 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Per Game |
282.5 |
2 |
1 |
| Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game |
71 |
3 |
1 |
| Defensive Touchdowns |
2 |
3 |
2 |
| Fumbles Recovered |
5 |
4 |
1 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
8.5 |
4 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency |
197.06 |
4 |
1 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense |
84.02 |
4 |
1 |
| Turnover Margin |
2 |
4 |
1 |
| First Downs Gained |
101 |
5 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Per Completion |
15.88 |
5 |
1 |
| Total Yards Allowed Per Game |
217.3 |
5 |
1 |
| Passes Intercepted |
5 |
6 |
1 |
| Passes Had Intercepted |
1 |
10 |
1 |
| Passing Yards Allowed Per Game |
146.3 |
11 |
1 |
| First Downs Allowed |
48 |
13 |
1 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. |
.478 |
13 |
1 |
| Completion Percentage |
.704 |
13 |
2 |
| Team Tackles for Loss |
7.3 |
14 |
2 |
| Turnovers Lost |
2 |
16 |
1 |
| Third Down Conversion Pct. Defense |
0.302 |
17 |
2 |
| Blocked Kicks |
1 |
18 |
3 |
| Fourth Down Conversion Pct. Defense |
.300 |
19 |
2 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1 |
19 |
1 |
| Sacks Allowed Per Game |
1.25 |
25 |
1 |
UTRGV also has 18 student-athletes ranking among the national leaders:
| Player |
Stat |
Total |
FCS Rank |
SLC Rank |
| Eddie Lee Marburger |
Yards Per Pass Attempt |
12.10 |
2 |
1 |
|
Passing Efficiency |
209.1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Completion |
16.79 |
3 |
1 |
|
Passing Touchdowns |
10 |
4 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards |
1,125 |
5 |
1 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
281.3 |
5 |
1 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
298.3 |
6 |
1 |
|
Completion Percentage |
.720 |
7 |
2 |
|
Points Responsible For |
66 |
8 |
1 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
16.5 |
12 |
1 |
|
Completions Per Game |
16.75 |
38 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Xayvion Noland |
Receiving Yards |
470 |
3 |
1 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
36.15 |
3 |
1 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
117.5 |
4 |
1 |
|
Receiving Touchdowns |
4 |
8 |
1 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
131.00 |
18 |
1 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
4 |
34 |
3 |
|
Scoring |
6.0 |
88 |
6 |
|
Points Responsible For |
24 |
137 |
9 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
3.25 |
156 |
11 |
|
Kick Returns |
54 |
159 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tony Diaz |
Receiving Touchdowns |
4 |
8 |
1 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
4 |
34 |
3 |
|
Receptions Per Game |
5 |
35 |
3 |
|
Receiving Yards |
261 |
49 |
4 |
|
Receiving Yards Per Game |
65.3 |
66 |
4 |
|
Scoring |
6.0 |
88 |
6 |
|
Points Responsible For |
24 |
137 |
9 |
|
Yards Per Reception |
13.05 |
178 |
8 |
|
All Purpose Yards Per Game |
65.25 |
196 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TJ Dement |
Rushing Touchdowns |
5 |
10 |
1 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
5 |
18 |
1 |
|
Scoring |
7.5 |
52 |
2 |
|
Points Responsible For |
30 |
92 |
5 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
7.5 |
121 |
6 |
|
Rushing Yards Per Game |
35.5 |
192 |
12 |
|
Rushing Yards |
142 |
162 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fabian Garcia |
Rushing Touchdowns |
3 |
34 |
3 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
3 |
64 |
6 |
|
Scoring |
6.0 |
88 |
6 |
|
Rushing Yards |
131 |
179 |
13 |
|
Rushing Yards Per Game |
35.5 |
192 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brysen Gardner |
Field Goals Per Game |
1.25 |
18 |
2 |
|
Scoring |
8.0 |
32 |
1 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
.714 |
49 |
4 |
|
Points Responsible For |
32 |
79 |
4 |
|
Points Responsible For Per Game |
8.0 |
94 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percy Jackson III |
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.67 |
11 |
1 |
|
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
19 |
2 |
|
Tackles for Loss |
1.17 |
52 |
3 |
|
Sacks Per Game |
0.33 |
179 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Aidan Jakobsohn |
Completions Per Game |
4.33 |
141 |
12 |
|
Passing Yards |
161 |
141 |
12 |
|
Passing Yards Per Game |
53.7 |
141 |
12 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
82.0 |
156 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brennan Carroll |
Rushing Yards Per Game |
48.3 |
66 |
3 |
|
Rushing Yards |
175 |
111 |
6 |
|
Total Yards Per Game |
58.3 |
199 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alijah Prosser |
Passes Defended Per Game |
1 |
44 |
3 |
|
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.25 |
91 |
11 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.25 |
101 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Djouvensky Schlenbaker |
Rushing Touchdowns |
3 |
34 |
3 |
|
Total Touchdowns |
3 |
64 |
6 |
|
Scoring |
4.5 |
191 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dorian Blackwell |
Passes Defended Per Game |
1.00 |
44 |
3 |
|
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.25 |
91 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Elijah Graham |
Fumble Recoveries |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Interceptions Per Game |
0.50 |
22 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jaiden Haygood |
Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
19 |
2 |
|
Total Tackles |
6.5 |
172 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Keilan Sweeny |
Punt Returns |
11.6 |
15 |
4 |
|
Kick Returns |
58 |
146 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Logic Hudgens |
Interceptions Per Game |
0.25 |
101 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Seyyid Smith |
Forced Fumbles Per Game |
0.25 |
91 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Broderick Taylor |
Total Touchdowns |
2 |
150 |
15 |
Up Next
UTRGV opens Southland Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at Southeastern, a team receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll. Fans can watch online domestically on
ESPN+ and internationally on
Southland International. Fans can also listen locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the
Radio Para Mi app.
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